Absolute Craft-Chapter 50: Reflections (3)

Chapter 50: Reflections (3)

The temporary enchantment had always been Blake’s trump card for moments like these. He could either strengthen himself or weaken others, and each enchantment unleashed a random effect, putting his adaptability to the test.

He hadn’t needed to use it against Anonymous House, but these skills were undeniable game-changers against both the unknown entity and the minotaurs.

The instant Blake combined the Winter General’s blizzard with his buff—The Chaos Tornado—the world around him turned white. All he could see was wildly swirling snow, hail, ice chunks, and more.

The blizzard raged so violently that the black-cloaked being had to abandon his position. He raised his head in disbelief at the churning wall of snow, unable to believe his eyes. He wondered if he’d underestimated the Winter General’s strength.

Meanwhile, at the eye of the storm, Blake faced three minotaurs. Thanks to the ice saber in his hand, he could see them clearly. The sword not only generated the blizzard but also granted him the ability to see through it—much like Sol could see through his flames.

Because of that, the minotaurs’ dire situation played out before him like a scene on a screen. None of them could budge; their muscles were relentlessly torn by the piercing winds, carving deep wounds into their thick flesh. Their blood spurted out, only to be swept away by the snow. Their howls were smothered by the blizzard’s roar. Still, it was striking how the minotaurs remained on their feet, refusing to yield to the storm.

’These minotaurs are on a level no normal player could handle,’ Blake thought. ’I don’t know how the Winter General fought them with his own blizzard, but that black-cloaked guy sure brought the perfect allies.’

Maybe these minotaurs could have pushed through the Winter General’s storm, but not Blake’s. Without hesitation, he rushed forward, his saber clenched in his grip. As soon as he entered a minotaur’s reach, he drove his blade into the gaping wound on its chest, aiming straight for its heart.

Though the saber slipped in relatively easily, forcing it past the ribs proved a challenge in this echo. Summoning every ounce of his strength, he howled, plunging the blade deeper and deeper into the minotaur’s chest. When he pierced its heart, he tore his weapon free and swiveled to attack another enemy. Every second mattered in this blizzard. Before the first minotaur even collapsed face-first, Blake had already plunged his sword into the next one.

The creature bellowed and tried to lower its horns, but the storm thwarted its every move. Blake stayed alert for any surprise attacks but was prepared to gamble if it meant slaying the beasts. Luckily, he didn’t have to.

Soon, all three monsters lay dead at his feet. Even so, Blake felt spent—drained of most of his energy. He stood still, shoulders sagging as his chest rose and fell heavily.

Twenty seconds passed... leaving him only ten more seconds of this empowered state. By now, he understood the blizzard’s nature well: an unstoppable force that left no one unscathed once trapped inside it. Anyone caught within it was at its mercy.

Gritting his teeth, Blake assumed a thrusting stance. Only a fool would surrender to fatigue and lose such vital momentum. He might have failed in many areas of his life, but he refused to let himself down in battle.

"Iceberg Thrust," Blake whispered.

In seconds, the churning ice in the blizzard began to shimmer. For a moment, it looked like starlight glittering in the storm. Then, chunks of ice rained down around Blake, stretching and merging with his sword. In the blink of an eye, his saber grew into a massive weapon that threatened to topple him if he made a single wrong move.

With only a few precious seconds of the blizzard left, Blake fixed his gaze on the lone enemy across from him.

"Infinite Blessing," he whispered.

<You have used Infinite Blessing on The Winter Sword (Epic)>

<The Winter Sword (Epic) has received The Cutting Edge (Legendary) Buff>

Immediately after Blake gained the perfect buff for his next strike, something unexpected happened. The blizzard seized him, hoisting him upward. He rose as though on an invisible platform, ascending the storm’s towering spire.

It reminded him of how the ghost of the Winter General had soared up to launch his own attacks. Whether it was because of their earlier battle or the blizzard’s whim, Blake seized this new vantage. He’d had plenty of experience fighting while airborne.

Kicking off a chunk of ice, he propelled himself toward the cloaked figure, who clearly hadn’t expected an aerial assault. As Blake streaked through the air, the blizzard followed him, accelerating his pace and adding more ice to his saber.

Sensing the disturbance, the man glanced up—just in time to see Blake riding a collapsing avalanche straight toward him. In Blake’s grip, the ice saber looked large enough to rival a titan’s weapon.

Behind him, the ghost of the Winter General sneered.

This surreal sight stunned the cloaked man. He raised his hands to trigger a skill, but Blake hurtled forward faster than he could react, delivering the coup de grâce.

With no chance to evade, the man took the direct hit. Blake’s sword ripped through his chest, pinning him to the ground. Then, the swirling avalanche piled on top, leaving only his head exposed. The darkness of his cloak dissipated, revealing an ashen face with gold-flecked eyes. He looked completely stunned, jaw slack. Dark blood leaked from the corners of his mouth.

The man—now unmasked—stared blankly for a moment before his gaze slid to Blake. His lips twitched into a shaky smile.

"A... player... I see..." he whispered his final words.

And then, the Winter General’s Echo faded away. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Before the entire space collapsed, the ghost of the Winter General gazed at the corpse of the man he could never have defeated. Even now, he wondered what that man truly was. He turned back, sorrow welling up inside him as he realized his mansion would never regain its former grandeur.

With his family gone, he too could finally find eternal rest...